Homepage Story Archive

Vienna Conference Boosts Prospects for Disarmament

PSR's Executive Director Catherine Thomasson and IPPNW's Co-President Ira Helfand "worked the aisles" and witnessed the exciting and historic outcome of the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. One hundred fifty-eight nations--82% of the world--attended. Of them, 44 nations stand strongly for a nuclear weapons ban treaty, and Austria issued a formal pledge to continue pushing forward and to cooperate with all stakeholders to achieve this goal.

Chemical Fragrances: Potentially Harmful to Human Health

Are you deep into holiday shopping? High on many gift lists are fragranced candles, toys and body-care care products, enticingly labelled vanilla bean or candy apple. Unfortunately, fragranced products can contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals linked to allergic reactions, asthma, and headaches. Hormone-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates have also been found in fragranced products. Learn how to shop smart and avoid potentially unsafe products »

December 9, 2014

Report from Vienna: PSR Presents at Civil Society Forum

On December 6, over 600 campaigners gathered for the Vienna Civil Society Forum, organized by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. PSR Executive Director Catherine Thomasson, MD and PSR Security Committee chair Ira Helfand, MD were on hand to represent Physicians for Social Responsibility and give presentations at the Forum. This was directly before the Vienna Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons Conference, sponsored by the Austrian government, Monday-Tuesday, December 8 & 9.

Tell President Obama: Get Toxic Coal Ash Under Control!

Five leading PSR doctors and PSR's Environment & Health director called on the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget to assure health-protective disposal of toxic coal ash. Thanks to a court order that PSR was party to, EPA will issue rules on coal ash disposal in two weeks. Tell President Obama that those regulations must be strong enough to protect us from toxic contamination.

We Surpassed Our Goal, Thanks to You!

On Giving Tuesday, 153 of you gave a total of $17,140, more than three times our original goal of $5,000. Some of you are long-time activists but first time donors, others gave already this year, and many others are our steady year-end supporters. We appreciate all of you.

We send you our best wishes for a dynamic holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.

November 24, 2014

Protecting What We Love Best

As we give thanks for food, family, and health, let’s take a moment to protect what we love from one of the gravest threats to health and survival: climate change. The EPA's "Clean Power Plan" is our best opportunity in years to reduce carbon pollution. Tell the EPA you support replacing coal-fired power plants with clean renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency will Save Thousands of Lives

If states reduce carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants by transitioning to renewable energy and energy efficiency, they will not only reduce greenhouse gases; they will also avert 3,500 premature deaths, 1,000 hospital admissions and 220 heart attacks each year. That's a finding by long-time PSR member Jonathan Levy, ScD, and prominent colleagues. View Dr. Levy's recent webinar presentation to PSR on these health "co-benefits."

November 10, 2014

The U.S. Made the Right Choice!

On Friday, November 7th, the U.S. Department of State announced to PSR and other disarmament groups that they WILL send an official delegation to participate in the 3rd Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons Conference this December in Vienna, Austria. THANK YOU to everyone who helped in bringing this to fruition by signing our petition delivered a week ago to the staff of the Under Secretary of Arms Control and International Security!

Student Bike Tour in Kazakhstan Raises Awareness about Nuclear Tests

PSR Student Organizer Michelle Gin reports back from the amazing bike tour in Kazakhstan, supported by PSR members. The shocking story of radiation exposure and information cover-up was countered by the warm, welcoming embrace of Kazakhstanis and their desire to tell their stories.

Break the Silence on Fracking Non-disclosure Agreements

It's hard to document that hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas ("fracking") harms health. That's partly because industry uses non-disclosure agreements, providing cash payments to victims harmed by fracking in exchange for a promise to remain silent. PSR-Chesapeake is petitioning industry to disclose important information about non-disclosure agreements -- and to allow those who have been silenced to speak publicly.

Climate Change and Health Outcomes: PSR Members Publish in JAMA

Long-time PSR members Jonathan Patz, MD, MPH, and Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, recently published a review in the Journal of the American Medical Association of scientific data on climate change and health. They neatly summarize critical topics including specific health impacts, climate change communication, and the health cobenefits that result from mitigating climate change. Read an abstract of their article here.

October 15, 2014

PSR & World Medical Association Work to Ban Nuclear Weapons!

This month, the World Medical Association considered a statement introduced by PSR and IPPNW to pressure nuclear weapons states to eliminate their weapons and urge national medical societies to take action. In a unanimous vote, the statement was directed to the International Council for a final vote next year. This could be an important step towards a Nuclear Ban Treaty, making ALL weapons of mass destruction illegal!

These PAX "Sign Against Nukes" campaigners in Holland are part of the growing campaign all over the world to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons, just like other weapons of mass destruction have been banned.

Please help support US efforts by signing our MoveOn petition to convince President Obama and the State Department to participate in a historic summit on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons this December in Vienna.

PSR Leader Questions Carbon Capture and Sequestration

PSR board member and past president Alan Lockwood, MD toured Canada recently and questioned Canada's experiment with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Canada has constructed the world's first large-scale coal-fired power plant that captures and stores its own carbon dioxide. Lockwood, discussing the health implications and costs of burning coal, voiced doubts about CCS's economic viability and questioned whether massive amounts of carbon can safely be stored underground.

PSR Leads Health Contingent in Massive People's Climate March

Dressed in white coats and massed behind a banner reading "The Voice of Climate Health," PSR led the health contingent in Sunday's historic march for action on climate change. Top PSR leaders participated, as did PSR representatives from as far as the Pacific Northwest.

Meet Us in New York!

In a new PSR video, PSR Executive Director Catherine Thomasson, MD, explains why she's in New York City for the People's Climate March. Join her and PSR Board President Bob Gould, MD, as they talk about the link between climate and health on Saturday. And on Sunday, march with them and a hundred thousand others to make our voices heard: we must roll back climate change.

PSR Iowa Holds Its Own EPA Public Hearing on Carbon Rule

This summer, the EPA held public hearings on its proposed standards for carbon pollution from power plants. However, no hearings were held in Iowa, a particularly coal-intensive state relative to its low population. Without skipping a beat, PSR leader Maureen McCue and Iowa PSR set up their own well-attended public hearing in Iowa City to make sure the voices of their community were heard.

Some good news from the Mideast! All of Syria’s Chem Weapons Safely Removed

PSR seeks diplomatic rather than military solutions, and here's a success story. After a nine-month, nonviolent, international effort, officials removed the last remnants of Syria’s declared chemical weapons arsenal to a U.S. ship at sea on June 23. This was a major victory for the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention, even more impressive given the current internal conflict in Syria.

September 9, 2014

Stop Nuclear Weapons Before They Stop Us

Please sign onto PSR's first-ever MoveOn petition, calling on President Obama and the State Department to take action for nuclear disarmament. President Obama pledged "to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons." Help PSR convince him to back up words with action. Our MoveOn petition asks the Obama administration to constructively participate in a historic international summit on nuclear weapons this December.